Chapter 28. Goodbye, Belladona

Evelyn

My breath hitched. I staggered back, my pulse a wild, erratic thing in my chest. No. He couldn’t be here.

My gaze darted to the security camera, and there he was.

The same black hoodie. The same soulless eyes. Standing closer than before. At our doorstep.

“Well,” his voice slithered through the speaker, smooth, taunting, “stepping away from the door won’t do much. If I wanted to hurt you, I fucking would.” He paused, the weight of his words pressing against my ribs. “But here’s the thing—I’m not here to hurt you. Not today.” A beat of silence. Then, a soft chuckle. “Can’t say the narrative won’t change next time we meet.”

My stomach twisted violently. I could see it—that sick grin. The one he wore when he watched people crumble.

“And you know what?” His voice dropped lower, dripping with cruel amusement. “Two birds, one stone. If I hurt you, I hurt that thing growing inside you—Mr. Adriano’s offspring.” He inhaled, as if savoring the